#ethio-jazz

[sonicandvisualsurprises]

1977

A masterpiece of Ethio-Jazz, Musicawi Silt radiates rhythm'n'soul.

[haveyouheardthisband]

[burlveneer-music]

Jorga Mesfin - The Kindest One - first release of 2007 recordings by a protege of Mulatu Astatke and founder of the Atlanta-based Ethio-jazz group Wudasse

This is Mulatu Astatke’s protege and Ethiopian saxophonist and composer Jorga Mesfin’s debut album. It’s a long foray into Ethio-jazz that takes this courageous syncretism further by fusing spiritual experimentation with bits from all kinds of situations in Ethiopian music, jazz music, and specifically Ethiopian jazz music that precedes it. Jorga Mesfin is widely regarded as one of the most talented contemporary musicians and composers in Ethiopia. He started his professional career at the young age of 17 and has since collaborated with numerous renowned artists, including Tsegaye Gebremedhin, Carolyn Beard Withlow, The Last Poets, Vijay Iyer, Wayna Wondossen, Kirk Whalum, Takana Miyamoto, Gizze Reggae band, Dionne Farris, Aster Aweke, Mahmoud Ahmed, and Mulatu Astatke. Additionally, Mesfin was a resident at Astatke's legendary African Jazz Village in Addis Ababa every Thursday. Jorga Mesfin – Piano, Soprano Saxophone Tefeir Assefa – Percussions Takana Miyamoto – Piano, Accordion Fasil Wuhib – Electric Bass Ali Eric Barr – Djembe Mamaniji Azanyah – Double Bass All songs are composed and arranged by Jorga Mesfin Recorded in Atlanta, USA in 2007 Liner notes: Nathan Hamelberg

[haveyoulistenedtothisalbum-poll]

Tracklist:

ሰዎች፡ምን፡ይላሉ። (Sèwotch men yelalu) • ጩኽቴን፡ብትሰሙ። (Tchuéten Betsèmu) • ላንቺ፡ብ��። (Lantchi Biyé) • እንዴ፡ ኢየሩሳሌም። (Endé Iyérusalem) • ገላ ገላ (Gela Gela) • ባሰል እስከ ብራሰል / ውቢት / ባሰል እስከ ብራሰል (Ambassel to Brussel 1 / Wubit / Ambassel to Brussel 2)

Spotify ♪ Bandcamp

[habeshawubet]

[soundgrammar]

Alèmayehu Eshété: Telantena zare

[zef-zef]

Very nice Album, containing Ethio-Jazz (Ethio-Futurism), Nu Jazz, Spiritual Jazz and wonderful deep Ambient Drone.

Dragonchild

Meditation (Reprise)

Above All From Dragonchild - Dragonchild (FPE, 2023)

[mokgroove-blog]

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ART (Ep. 39) “ALL VINYL - ALL CITY” - MOK GROOVE

[gordsellar]

A cool history lesson in Ethiopian Jazz.

[sonicandvisualsurprises]

1972

Continuing the exploration of Ethiopia's musical past, this mesmerising instrumental by Mulatu Astatke caught my attention.

Biography from Discogs :

Mulatu Astatke (Amharic: ሙላቱ አስታጥቄ; also written Astatqé on French releases) is arguably one of the most influential and legendary musicians from Ethiopia. During the 1960’s, he studied music abroad in London, Boston, and New York. He then returned home to Ethiopia armed with a love for jazz and Latin music. There he blended Ethiopian traditional music with the Latin-jazz he was so fond of to create a unique hybrid he called “Ethio-jazz”.

Mulatu Astatke is first and foremost a composer but also a multi-instrumentalist, playing the vibraphone, keyboards and organs. He is further credited as having established congas and bongos, instruments normally central to Latin styles, in Ethiopian music.

However, as Ethiopian songs traditionally focused on vocals his greatest contribution to the music of his country was introducing a new focus on instrumentation.

[haveyouheardthisband]

[burlveneer-music]

Black Flower - Kinetic - Ethio-jazz album from Belgium out today

With their anticipated new album, Black Flower delves into the transformative power of rhythm and motion. Each groove, rhythm and pulse channels raw energy, acting as a disruptor that drives transformation. When the mind feels stuck—cemented in patterns, rigid in its views, overwhelmed by obstacles—Kinetic serves as a reminder that the body’s motion can be the force to shatter those confines. To move is to adapt, evolve, and transform. The album embodies a philosophy of flowing with change rather than resisting it, offering a bold, dynamic statement on breaking free from life's limitations. Kinetic is a call to dance through life’s chaos and to harness the power of movement as a tool for liberation. The album showcases Black Flower's signature blend of Ethio-jazz, oriental influences, dub, and afrobeat. The jazz combo, hailed by tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, The Gaslamp Killer, and Lefto Early Bird, has performed live sessions on BBC Radio 3 and Worldwide FM. Their previous albums earned widespread acclaim, with glowing reviews from prestigious publications such as MOJO, Stereogum, Q Magazine, and Uncut Magazine. The band has toured extensively across Europe, building a strong fanbase.

[sonicandvisualsurprises]

1969

Yètèsfa Tezata' by Tesfa Mariam Kidane offers a delicate interplay of melody and emotion.

Listen/purchase: Yètèsfa Tezata by Tèsfa-Maryam Kidané

[habeshawubet]

[soundgrammar]

Listen/purchase: Yèkèrmo Sèw by Mulatu Astatke